A look back at the original reporting and analysis found on MLBTR the past seven days:
- Tim Dierkes posted the final edition of MLBTR's 2014 Free Agent Power Rankings. Robinson Cano and Jacoby Ellsbury remain the top two while Masahiro Tanaka (who will need to be posted by his NPL team, the Rakuten Golden Eagles) and Mike Napoli break into the top ten.
- The offseason began for 22 of the 30 MLB teams this past week and so did two offseason staples on MLBTR: Offseason Outlook and Arbitration Eligibles.
- Jeff Todd detailed the offseason outlook for the Marlins, Zach Links examined the Astros and Rockies, and Tim summarized the Cubs.
- Tim also kicked off the Arbitration Eligibles series with a look at the Marlins, Mets, Cubs, Astros, Mariners, Blue Jays, Phillies, and Rockies.
- There were four new installments in MLBTR's Free Agent Profile series.
- Tim foresees a team giving Mike Napoli $42MM over three years, Carlos Ruiz a two-year, $14MM contract, and a four-year, $36MM deal to Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
- Steve Adams predicts right-handed reliever Jesse Crain will sign for one-year and $3.5MM with incentives based on innings pitched and, perhaps, games finished.
- Matt Sosnick, the agent for Josh Johnson, told MLBTR the right-hander underwent elbow surgery Tuesday to remove bone spurs and will begin a throwing program in five weeks and will be ready for Spring Training. Johnson enters free agency for the first time this winter.
- Ryan Galla of CAA Baseball told MLBTR a few roster moves made during September has increased his Super Two cutoff calculation by one day. Players will now need two years and 122 days (2.122) of service time to earn an extra year of salary arbitration.
- MLBTR was the first to learn Tim Hudson expects to be fully recovered from ankle surgery by mid-November and the right-hander will seek a Major League contract during free agency.
- Steve hosted this week's chat.
- Zach put together the best of the baseball blogosphere in Baseball Blogs Weigh In.
- Aaron Steen culminated the week with a Free Agent Faceoff between Masahiro Tanaka (#5 on MLBTR's 2014 Free Agent Power Rankings) and Matt Garza (#7). Nearly two-thirds of you favor the Japanese right-hander.
